Shibamata Taishakuten Sando

Katsushika Shibamata has been chosen by the country itself as one of Japan’s iconic scenic spots. It’s also no exaggeration to say that Shibamata Taishakuten and its approach are iconic parts of Tokyo’s shitamachi (old town) areas that possess striking atmosphere and appearance. It’s also famous as the hometown of Tora, the protagonist of the film “The Otoko wa tsurai yo (It’s Tough Being a Man),” directed by Japanese film master YAMADA Yoji. There is so much to see in the area, such as the “Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum” and “Yamada Yoji Museum” that bring you into the world of the film, as well as the elegant “Yamamoto-tei,” which was renovated between late Taisho era and early Showa era, and “Shibamata Taishakuten Daikyo-ji Temple,” an iconic landmark of the area. Every 60 days comes a “Koshin” day, during which Shibamata Taishakuten holds a temple festival, as it has done since back in the Edo period. The carrying of a matoi, or decorated standard, on “Yoi Koshin” (the eve of Koshin) is a must-see event. The large Koshin paper lanterns placed in front of Shibamata Taishakuten’s Niten-mon Gate add an air of elegance to the area.